Abstract

Examples of the conceptual metaphor of the “heart” pervade our culture. More than just a representation of romantic love, the heart metaphor contains the residue of ancient beliefs concerning the seat of cognition and the basis for thought and emotion. This paper explores the hypothesis that the notion of the heart as a meditating organ is more than just a metaphor, that it is an instance of how certain core (i.e. of the heart) beliefs persist across time and differing media. This paper briefly summarizes the portrayal of the heart in western culture and examines the implications of its persistence in contemporary public discourse and media products.